Season
04.06.20
Preparations for Kiel begin, Jung back in training
The central defender was able to join the rest of the squad for training on Wednesday after having problems with his hip, meaning only a duo were missing to make up a full squad.
After an eventful ‘Englische Woche’, with a 3-2 reverse against Stuttgart on Thursday before a 3-2 win at the Volksparkstadion over Wehen Wiesbaden on Sunday, Dieter Hecking’s squad enjoyed two days off to recover both mentally and physically, before the preparations for next Monday’s clash against Holstein Kiel (kick-off 8:30pm CET) began on Wednesday afternoon (3rd June). Only a trio were denying Dieter Hecking of having a full contingent, with centre-back Ewerton and winger Khaled Narey struggling with knee problems, whilst right-back Jan Gyamerah was missing for personal reasons. Gyamerah was able to take part on Thursday though, having suffered with his hip flexor since the beginning of May, which had kept him in the treatment room. Gideon Jung had also been having trouble with his hip, but was able to re-join the full squad, who completed strength and conditioning exercises with coach Daniel Müssig before moving into a session with full-sided games on Wednesday and Thursday.
After four games within the space of two weeks of the restart, the Rothosen were able to gather their thoughts at the beginning of a long training week. Northern neighbours KSV Holstein Kiel are the visitors to the Volksparkstadion on Monday night, a team that Hamburg haven’t defeated in the second division since joining in 2018. Both games last season ended in defeat (0-3 in Hamburg and 1-3 in Kiel) before an action-packed 1-1 draw in Kiel in November. Bakery Jatta saw the only straight red card of Hamburg’s season until this point in the 26th minute of that game, before Janni Serra put the hosts in front just before half-time. Timo Letschert was able to steal a point for the Rothosen in injury time, and Dieter Hecking’s charges will have to fight to the death on Monday again, with lots at stake in the battle for promotion. VfB Stuttgart find themselves a position and two points ahead of HSV going into Matchday 30, before they take on Osnabrück on Sunday in Stuttgart. Fourth-placed Heidenheim are now only a point behind Hamburg, and are also playing on Sunday, facing a trip to Hannover 96, before HSV have to keep the pressure up on Monday evening.